Health

Molokai Has First Two COVID-19 Cases

Monday, April 6th, 2020

The Molokai community faced the news of its first two confirmed COVID-19 cases last week. Both are Friendly Market Center employees; the first of whom, confirmed as positive on Thursday, was transported to Oahu for treatment.

After the first case was confirmed, Mayor Michael Victorino, Sen. Kalani English, and Rep. Lynn DeCoite worked with the market’s owners to facilitate testing for all 51 FMC employees at Molokai General Hospital on Friday. The second positive test came out of that round of testing.

“As a precaution, we’ve decided to have all employees [regardless of their test results] remain in self-quarantine,” said Kit Okimoto, co-owner and chief financial officer for Friendly Market.…

Federal Assistance for Small Businesses

Wednesday, April 1st, 2020

Sen. Schatz News Release

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz released a resource guide to help Hawaii small businesses like many on Molokai better understand how to access federal loans and new programs established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The bipartisan $2 trillion CARES Act is the largest aid package in American history and was signed into law last Friday.

“This new law will help Hawaii small businesses meet their payroll and provide people with paychecks for up to eight weeks,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “As more federal help becomes available, we’ll continue to work to provide more information about how Hawaii families and businesses can access these new resources.”…

Molokai Student Finalist for $10K Scholarship

Wednesday, April 1st, 2020

Molokai Student Finalist for $10K Scholarship

HRYF News Release

Molokai High School student Maria Angst is one of two students being considered for a $10,000 Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation Scholarship (HRYF). Ten HRYF recipients, 10 representatives on an interview panel from 10 Maui Rotary Clubs, and 10 individual virtual interviews demonstrated the “Power of 10” this year.

The HRYF Scholarship program offers every Rotary club in the state of Hawaii a $5000 scholarship to award to a deserving high school senior planning on attending college. Each of the 10 Maui County Rotary Clubs held in-person interviews to determine their club’s respective scholarship recipient. Angst was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lahaina.…

MGH Updated COVID-19 Info

Wednesday, April 1st, 2020

MGH News Release

Molokai General Hospital has begun using an external triage system (patients are greeted and screened outside the ED) to screen patients. Those who may meet criteria will be tested outside of the hospital to expedite care. The COVID-19 testing is an extension of the emergency department services.
We encourage anyone who suspects they may have been exposed to COVID-19 to speak with their medical provider to find out if they meet testing requirements.
As of Wednesday, March 25, Molokai General Hospital will be limiting its number of entrances to one. All people entering the main facility will need to use the front lobby sliding glass door.…

This Humanity

Wednesday, April 1st, 2020

If the barge stops coming
and we have all you need
will we share with our neighbors
or give in to greed?

If the barge stops coming
and the shelves are stripped bare
will we hoard a year’s surplus
or be kind and share?

If the barge stops coming
and the markets all close
will we let people starve
or help ease their woes?

If the barge stops coming
will we wake up and see
that we are all part
of this humanity?

Jayson Mizula…

Hawaiian Electric Adjusts Operations Due to Coronavirus

Wednesday, April 1st, 2020

Hawaiian Electric News Release

Hawaiian Electric continues to adjust its operations on Molokai and other islands to reduce the potential spread of coronavirus, including postponing less urgent repair and maintenance work, and closing walk-in customer payment centers at least through April.
None of the operational changes being made will interrupt electric service to customers.
To ensure electric service is not disrupted, Hawaiian Electric is postponing projects and work that would require customer outages, unless it is deemed critical for safety or reliability. Our crews and contractors will continue to perform essential work that involves little interaction with the public, including tree trimming (to reduce potential outages), replacement of equipment, and system resilience work that is difficult to reschedule.…

$2M for Residents Impacted by COVID-19

Wednesday, April 1st, 2020

County of Maui News Release

Mayor Michael Victorino signed a relief bill to launch a $2 million program to assist residents of Molokai, Lanai and Maui who’ve been severely impacted with job losses from the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis.

“Maui County is establishing the Hawaii Emergency Laulima Program (HELP) to make available $2 million to assist residents who’ve suffered economic hardship from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mayor Victorino said. “In this unprecedented time of uncertainty, we want to reach out to our hard-hit hotel, restaurant, retail and other workers who’ve seen their source of livelihood shut down to slow down the spread of this disease.”…

Efforts Continue to Keep Molokai Virus-Free

Wednesday, April 1st, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

“It’s like a movie that we’re all in,” described resident and Misaki’s Grocery owner Kevin Misaki of the current coronavirus pandemic. “As long as it’s not someone you know, it’s OK. But as soon as it’s your neighbor, your family, people [on Molokai] will start panick-ing.”

So far as of Sunday, Molokai continues to have no confirmed COVID-19 cases, as the rest of the state rose to 175 cases out of nearly 8,000 tests conducted. Nationwide, the U.S. case count has climbed to about 140,000 as of Sunday — the most of any country in the world — of which about 2,500 patients have died.…

Volunteer Efforts Deliver COVID-19 Testing Booth to Molokai

Wednesday, April 1st, 2020

Volunteer Efforts Deliver COVID-19 Testing Booth to Molokai

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

If and when COVID-19 makes its way to Molokai, medical staff on island now have an extra tool in their toolbox — a drive-thru testing booth that allows quick swab testing with minimal exposure for providers and patients alike and eases the burden on healthcare facilitates. The booth was airlifted to Molokai last Saturday through volunteer efforts, and though it won’t go into immediate use, it will be available if needed.

Molokai dentist Boki Chung is a member of the Hawaii COVID-19 Healthcare Providers Taskforce, a grassroots effort to unite healthcare workers across the state in fighting COVID-19 and provide them with needed resources.…

MHS Team Competes in Esports

Wednesday, March 25th, 2020

By Ric Ornellas

Along with math and literacy, Molokai High School (MHS) is developing 21st century competitive skills. Esports!

MHS research shows engaging students in esports and pikakasinotsuomi games can help them build critical thinking skills, encourage teamwork, foster innovation, and promote self-directed learning, all elements of Hawaii DOE’s six general learning objectives (GLOs).

With learning objectives as a focus to bolster core math and literacy skills, DimensionU, a leading educational program used in over 40 U.S. states, was acquired January 2020, through the efforts of MHS Principal, Dr. Katina Soares, and Librarian and Curriculum Coordinator, Diane Mokuau. Math and english language arts (ELA) teachers earlier tested and endorsed the program objectives.…